The French Lieutenant's Woman

“The French Lieutenant’s Woman” is a psychological novel by British classic writer John Fowles, released in huge print runs, successfully adapted into film, and still unsurpassed.

First published in 1969, it became one of the most significant cultural events of the 20th century. This work, combining the traditions of the Victorian novel, allusions to major works of English literature, references to Freud’s teachings, and motifs from existential philosophical thought, became a striking postmodern statement. Written according to the canons of the 19th century, Fowles’s book reflects the artistic paradigm of the 20th century—an experiment with form and a meditation on the writer’s role as an independent observer who cannot influence the motives and actions of the characters.

For all fans of psychological prose, there’s a chance not only to read, but also to hear one of the greatest classics. The text of “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” in a new translation by Sergey Task is read by theatre and film actor Vladislav Vetrov. The masterful narration turns this intriguing novel into a “theatre for the microphone”—the listener has no chance not to be drawn into the very core of the story.